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12 min read
Published on January 6, 2025
Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) allows businesses to make and receive calls over the internet rather than traditional phone lines. Modern business VoIP and cloud phone systems can combine calling, voicemail, call routing, messaging, integrations, and AI-powered capabilities in a single platform.
In this guide, we compare leading business VoIP providers based on pricing, reliability, call management, AI capabilities, integrations, scalability, and other key features to help you evaluate which business phone system best fits your needs.
This comparison was researched and written by the Zoom editorial team. Although Zoom Phone is one of the ten providers listed, we applied the same evaluation criteria — pricing, fees, published capabilities, uptime commitments, and third-party review scores — consistently across every entry. Pricing and feature details were verified against each provider's public website and documentation. Where a provider does not publicly list pricing, that is noted explicitly.
Replacement chart: phone-relevant capabilities and updated pricing/fee treatment
Note: Fees vary by jurisdiction and account configuration; verify plan packaging/prices immediately before publication.
| Provider | Best for | Standout VoIP capabilities | Starting price & fee considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoom Phone | AI-powered unified communications | Unlimited U.S./Canada calling; AI call summaries, transcription & tasks; Zoom Workplace integration; 99.999% uptime SLA | $16/user/mo, annual; no separate Zoom E911 or regulatory recovery fee; USF/taxes additional |
| Ooma | Simple SMB phone systems | Unlimited U.S./Canada/Mexico/Puerto Rico calling; virtual receptionist; mobile app; 911 support | $19.95/user/mo; applicable E911, regulatory and other taxes/fees vary by location |
| Vonage | App-first business calling | Unlimited domestic calling; SMS/MMS; desktop and mobile apps; voicemail | $19.99/line/mo standard; + $0.99 E911; + $3.50 RCIP where applicable; USF/taxes additional |
| RingCentral | Streamlined UC for SMB/midmarket | Unlimited U.S./Canada calling; AI transcription & summaries; phone, messaging and meetings; scalable add-ons | $20/user/mo, annual; + E911 fee; + Compliance/Admin Cost Recovery fee; USF/taxes additional |
| Nextiva | Growing customer-facing teams | Business calling, routing, SMS, video and chat; higher tiers add reporting, inbound contact center and AI | $15/user/mo, annual; + $3.95 Regulatory Recovery Fee; + $1.50 E911; taxes additional |
| Dialpad | Built-in AI for small teams | Unlimited U.S./Canada calling; real-time transcription; AI call summaries; messaging and meetings | $15/user/mo, annual; E911, regulatory/compliance fees and applicable taxes additional |
| 8x8 | Global calling | 99.999% uptime SLA; international calling; built-in transcription/AI; integrated UC and contact center platform | Custom pricing; E911 Service Fee, Regulatory Recovery Fee, USF and applicable taxes additional |
| Intermedia Unite | International calling + full UC | Unlimited calling to 34 countries; AI Call Recap; voicemail transcription; call recording; chat, video and SMS | $27.99/user/mo; Emergency Services, regulatory/admin surcharges, USF and taxes additional |
| Grasshopper | Solopreneurs & very small businesses | Unlimited calling; virtual business phone; voicemail transcription; texting; mobile and desktop apps | $14/mo True Solo, annual; Regulatory Recovery Fee and applicable taxes additional |
| Google Voice | Google Workspace-centric teams | Google Workspace integration; unlimited U.S. calling/texting; voicemail transcription; higher tiers add routing and AI | $10/user/mo Starter; E911/988, regulatory fees and applicable taxes vary by location |
There's a lot to consider when choosing a VoIP provider. Look beyond basic calling features to service reliability, administration, integrations, and the capabilities included at each price point.
AI-first unified communications
Comprehensive feature set
AI-powered functionalities
Scalability
Global reach
Strong security measures
Mobile app
Customization options
No hidden fees
International calling is metered; unlimited calling to additional countries requires an add-on.
Unlimited U.S. & Canada calling
99.999% uptime SLA and E911 support
Auto attendants, call queues, and shared lines
AI-powered call summaries, transcription, and next steps
AI-powered voicemail prioritization and task extraction
SMS/MMS, call recording, and integrations
U.S. & CA Unlimited: $16/user/month, billed annually
Simple SMB phone systems
Intuitive platform
Mobile app
Call recording, desktop app, and transcription require higher-tier plans.
Unlimited calling in U.S., Canada, Mexico & Puerto Rico
Virtual receptionist
Mobile app
One free toll-free number
Digital fax
Ooma Office Essentials: $19.95/user/month
App-first business calling
Robust feature set
Mobile app
High quality audio
Call recording and visual voicemail transcription require higher-tier plans.
Unlimited domestic calling
SMS/MMS
Voicemail
Virtual receptionist / auto attendant
Mobile and desktop apps
Mobile: $19.99/month/line + $0.99 E911 fee + $3.50 RCIP fee + Federal Program Fee and applicable taxes
SMBs prioritizing ease of use
Highly scalable
Strong security measures
Mobile app
Advanced call queue and customer engagement capabilities require add-ons.
Additional fees for E911 service and Compliance & Administrative Cost Recovery
Unlimited U.S. & Canada calling
IVR / auto attendant and call queues
99.999% availability SLA
AI call notes and transcription
SMS, fax, mobile & desktop apps
RingEX Core: $20/user/month, billed annually + E911 Service Fee: $1/line/month; Compliance & Administrative Cost Recovery Fee: $4/line/month for 1–99 lines
Customer service
Mobile app
Comprehensive set of features
Customization options
Excellent customer service
Advanced reporting, inbound call center, and AI capabilities require higher-tier plans or add-ons.
Inbound & outbound voice
Business SMS
Call routing / auto attendant
Mobile app
Video meetings
Team chat
Core: $15/user/month, billed annually ($15.00 + $3.95 Regulatory Recovery Fee + $1.50 E911 fee = $20.45/month before taxes). Note: Nextiva's fee page explicitly says the $3.95 RRF and $1.50 E911 fee are company-imposed fees, not government taxes.
Scalability
Voicemail transcription
Smart call routing
Mobile app
Limited customization
Call transcription
Sentiment analysis
Standard: $15/user/month
Affordability
99.999% uptime SLA
Unlimited calling to up to 48 countries
Built-in AI transcription and summaries
Pricing is quote-based and not publicly listed.
Auto attendant and call routing
SMS/MMS and fax
Voicemail transcription
Call recording
Mobile, desktop, and web apps
CRM integrations
Custom pricing
Third-party integrations
Unlimited domestic + international calling to 34 countries
99.999% uptime SLA
Built-in AI Call Recap / AI Assistant
Mobile + desktop apps
Some advanced contact center and AI capabilities require additional licensing.
Auto attendant and hunt groups
Voicemail transcription
Call recording
SMS / chat / video
AI Call Recap
Mobile + desktop apps
Unite Pro: $27.99/user/month
Small businesses
Cost-effective
Easy to use
Unlimited calling & texting
Limited advanced call routing and contact-center features.
Unlimited calling
Voicemail transcription
Call recording
Business texting
Call forwarding/extensions
Mobile & desktop apps
True Solo: $14/month, billed annually
Google Workspace integration
Google Workspace integration
Unlimited U.S. calling and texting
Voicemail transcription
24/7 support
Auto attendants, ring groups, and call queuing require Standard ($20/user/month).
Limited third-party integrations
Unlimited U.S. calling and texting
Voicemail transcription
Call forwarding
On-demand call recording
Mobile and web apps
3-way calling / call transfer
Starter: $10/user/month + E911/988 fees (additional; varies by location) + regulatory fees + applicable taxes
Business VoIP plans generally range from $10 to $30 per user per month on an annual billing cycle. However, the listed price is rarely the full cost — most providers add mandatory fees for E911 service, regulatory recovery, and federal USF, which can add $2–$6 per line before taxes. When comparing plans, add up the base price plus all published fees to get the actual monthly cost per user.
Start with the basics: call quality, reliability (look for a published uptime SLA), and E911 support. From there, evaluate the features your team actually needs day one — auto attendants, call routing, voicemail transcription, and mobile/desktop apps — versus capabilities you may grow into, like AI call summaries, analytics, or contact center integration. Also confirm that the provider integrates with your existing CRM, productivity tools, and business applications, and factor in the total cost including fees and taxes, not just the advertised per-user price.
Modern business VoIP providers typically include auto attendants, call queues, and extension management in their base or mid-tier plans. Zoom Phone, RingCentral, and Nextiva all offer web-based admin portals where you can configure call routing rules, set up extensions, and manage users without specialized IT support. If ease of administration is a priority, look for providers that let you make these changes in a self-service portal rather than requiring support tickets.
For businesses with significant international calling volume, 8x8 and Intermedia Unite stand out — 8x8 includes unlimited calling to up to 48 countries on supported plans, while Intermedia Unite includes calling to 34 countries. Other providers, including Zoom Phone, meter international calls and offer optional add-ons or calling packages for specific countries. If international calling is a core requirement, compare which countries are included in each provider's unlimited bundle versus which are billed per minute.
Modern business VoIP providers now bundle voice, video meetings, and team messaging into a single platform — often called unified communications (UC). Zoom Phone (via Zoom Workplace), RingCentral, Dialpad, Nextiva, 8x8, and Intermedia Unite all include video conferencing and messaging alongside business calling. The key differences are in how tightly these capabilities are integrated, what's included at each pricing tier, and whether AI features like call transcription and meeting summaries are available across all communication channels or limited to specific ones.
Zoom Phone is more than a standalone VoIP service. As part of Zoom Workplace, it connects business calling with meetings, team chat, SMS, and built-in AI in a single platform. Zoom AI fro Zoom Phone can generate call summaries, transcriptions, and action items, while Zoom Workplace extends the experience with broader collaboration and productivity capabilities.
For organizations looking to move beyond basic calling, Zoom Phone can also connect with Zoom Contact Center, CRM and business applications, and AI-powered workflows that help turn conversations into follow-up and action.
